Mohill 0-03 Pádraig Pearses 0-13
Pádraig Pearses laid down another serious marker in Ballinamore this afternoon as they overpowered and suffocated Mohill in a devastating second half-display, outscoring the home side by 0-10 to 0-01 after a tense first half suggested that the large crowd might be about the be treated to a tight and dramatic finale.
This is a seventh consecutive championship clean sheet for the Roscommon club and their sixth win in seven Connacht championship games across the 2019, 2021 and 2024 seasons, and this afternoon they showed all their composure when they reacted perfectly to their failure to score in the first quarter.
A Keith Beirne free was the only score in that period while goalkeeper Paul Whelan also had to be sharp to come out and close down a Seán Harkin goal chance.
One Declan Kenny shot off the post and a couple of poor wides might have rattled other sides, but Frank Canning’s men held their nerve and finally got off the mark through two points in a minute from Ronan Daly.
The tie was still finely poised at half-time at 0-03 to 0-02 in Pearses’ favour, and while the breeze was set to favour the visitors for the second 30 minutes, Evan Harkin’s point in traffic in the 36th minute showed that there was still a kick in Mohill.
That was until Mohill corner back David Mitchell picked up his second yellow card in the 41st minute.
Within five minutes of gaining a numerical advantage, Conor Daly had sent over the best score of the game from long range and Declan Kenny split the uprights on the run, and all of a sudden it was 0-08 to 0-03 and one of the best defensive sides in Ireland had their opponents right where they wanted them.
Mohill never looked like getting the goals they needed to make the game competitive again, with Paul Whelan charging out to block down Conor Quinn’s soccer style effort on the only half-chance that materialised, that coming from an ingenious overhead flick from Keith Keegan.
Kenny, Ronan Daly, Jack Tumulty and Carey all got on the scoresheet in the closing minutes as Pearses marched emphatically into the provincial decider, before moving into the dressing toom to take in the extra-time action from Markievicz Park between Coolera-Strandhill and Ballina Stephenites, a result that confirms Pearses will make their third away journey of this campaign when they go to Sligo for the final in a fortnight.
Pádraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; Gavin Downey, Niall Carty, David Murray; Declan Kenny (0-02), Caelim Keogh, Conor Harley; Conor Ryan (0-01 mark), Niall Daly; Conor Daly (0-02), Ronan Daly (0-04), Adam McGreal; Seán Canning, Paul Carey (0-02, 0-01 free), Jack Tumulty (0-02).
Substitutes: Conor Lohan for Harley (42), Eoin Colleran for Canning (42), Jack Nevin for McGreal (52), Mark Richardson for Downey (58), Shane Carty for Colleran (60).
Mohill: Pádraig Tighe; James Mitchell, Seán Harkin, Ryan Bohan; David Mitchell, Shane Quinn, Jack Rowley; Conor Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn; Evan Harkin (0-01), Keith Keegan, Tadhg Mulligan; Jordan Reynolds, Keith Beirne (0-02 frees), Fiachra McGuinness.
Substitutes: Ronan Gordon for McGuinness (51), Caillin Canning for S Quinn, (55-58 temp), Caillin Canning for Mulligan (58), Donal Duignan for S Harkin (60+1), Oscar Reynolds for S Quinn (60+3).
Referee: James Molloy (Galway).
